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Prologue

Lea

“It’s so beautiful,” I whisper, cuddling deeper into Austin’s side as I look up at the night sky I swear you can see every single star there is when the nights are clear like this

“Yeah,” he grunts,strokes

“We graduate in teeks,” I say while butterflies erupt in my stomach Austin has been , we have talked about getting h school I know a lot of people would say we’re too young, but ever since the day I laid eyes on him, I kneould be my husband

“Lea Wolf,” he says, and those butterflies begin to fly faster I scoot up, place my hands on his chest, and resthis face Austin has always appeared older than he is His dark dirty blonde hair is shaggy, his jaw covered in an ever-present layer of scruff, and his lips that I love so aze locks on his, I know his eyes will forever beabout hilaciers near oing to be er down the center of s them to rest under my chin while his thumb sweeps across my lower lip

“So ready,” I say, watching anxiousness form on his handsome face I know he thinks I’ll want more than the life of a fisherman’s wife, a small town life, but deep down I know this is all I will ever need As long as I have Austin, I don’t need anything else

“Graduation, then Vegas,” he ru me up to rest completely on top of him

“Graduation, then Vegas,” I agree then smile as his hand on the back ofthe same breath

“I need to get you hoainstoverhis mouth down to mine

“I e could stay out here all night,” I sigh when his mouth leaves mine

“Me too, baby, but I promise you—when summer starts, we’ll sleep outside, under the stars, on the boat, in the ”

“I would like that,” I say, wrappinghi out his hand forme out of the back of his truck, where we had ht

“I wonder what’s going on” I question as we pull up in front of my parents’ house, where the sheriff’s car is parked

“Don’t know,” Austinconcerned as he shuts off his truck Then quickly gets out, walks around the hood, and opens ently on my feet As soon as we make it up the front steps and into the house,on the couch, rocking back and forth while sobbing hysterically

“What happened?” Sheriff Jefferson’s head turnsher hand frantically while tears stream down her cheeks

“Have a seat?” Sheriff Jefferson says in a tone that I have never heard from him before as he holds his hand out to me

“Moins to knot, and I feel Austin’s ar me closer into his side

“I—” My mom starts then covers her face with her hands and sobs harder, the noises co it hard for me to even breath

“What’s going on?” Austin asks, pulling h I know deep dohat the sheriff is going to say, nothing can prepare le one of the to breathe

“Sorry, Lea, but your dad’s boat disappeared this afternoon after he called in a ht fire; they also, found his skiff, which was e the water for hiood”

“There’s still a chance, right? He could still be alive?” I practically beg, while ins to shake

“There’s always a chance,” Austin says, holding me closer